The Northeast Conference and the Metro Atlantic Athletics
Conference, in conjunction with the Athletics Department at Sacred
Heart University, as members of the National Collegiate Athletic
Association, are primarily responsible for insuring that its
various constituencies (i.e. University staff and faculty,
student-athletes, alumni and friends) abide by the NCAA rules and
regulations. Under those rules, alumni and friends can be
categorized as "representatives of the University's athletic
interests."

This brochure is presented as a quick reference to the many NCAA
rules which apply to "Athletic representatives." Since it does not
include all applicable situations, please call the Sacred Heart
University's Athletics Department if you have any questions before
having any contact with a prospective or enrolled student-athlete.
We appreciate your interest and support, but remind you that an
inappropriate contact or an inadvertent action on your part can
jeopardize the eligibility of student-athletes and prospects and
the compliance of Sacred Heart with NCAA and NEC regulations.

Sacred Heart University is proud to have the loyal support and
continued interest in our athletic programs by our alumni and
friends. As we strive for excellence, we must always seek the
highest standard of ethical conduct. With your assistance and
cooperation, we believe we can accomplish both goals.

Have ever been a member of the University's "booster"
organization or any of the sport specific groups under the athletic
department. Have ever made a donation to any of the NEC member
schools' men's or women's athletic programs.

Have ever helped to arrange or have provided summer employment
for enrolled student-athletes.

Have ever contacted (by letter, telephone or in person) a high
school student, grades 9-12, for the purpose of encouraging the
student to participate in the Sacred Heart's Athletics programs.
Have ever assisted in providing any benefit to enrolled
student-athletes or their families.

Have ever been involved in any way with the Sacred Heart's
Athletics programs.

The NCAA stipulates that once you have become an "athletic
representative" you retain that identification forever, even if you
no longer contribute to the athletic program.

Rule #1:
Only coaches and athletics department staff members can be involved
in the recruiting process. All "athletic representatives" who are
not employed by the school are prohibited from contacting a
prospect or members of the prospect's family by telephone, letter
or in person on or off campus for the purpose of encouraging
participation in Sacred Heart's athletic programs.

Rule #2:
Sacred Heart representatives cannot provide an "extra benefit" or
special arrangement to a prospect OR an enrolled student-athlete.
Specific applications as they apply to the NCAA extra benefit rule
to prospects and enrolled student-athletes, their relatives or
friends state that you:

May not give them cash or loans in any amount.

May not sign or co-sign a note with an outside agency to
arrange a loan.

May not employ relatives or friends of a prospect as an
inducement for the enrollment of the prospect.

May not provide them hospitality in your home other than for
special occasions (e.g. Thanksgiving, birthday).

May not invite them to your summer home to go water skiing,
sailing, etc.

May not provide them transportation within or outside of the
campus area (e.g., from campus to your home, from the airport to
campus, to summer job, etc.).

May not entertain or contact a prospect or prospect's family on
or off campus.

May not provide rent free or reduced rent housing.

May not provide a benefit connected with on or off campus
housing (e.g. individual television sets or stereo equipment,
specialized recreational facilities, etc.).

May not provide guarantee of a bond.

May not promise financial aid for post-graduate education.

May not provide promise to a prospect of employment after
college graduation.

Rule #3:
PLEASE assist the coaching staff in the recruiting process by
notifying them of any student you think would be a strong addition
to Sacred Heart's athletics program. The coach can then make the
appropriate contact with the prospect.

Rule #4:
As an athletic representative, you are not precluded from
continuing friendships with families who have prospective or
enrolled student-athletes (e.g., backyard barbecues, picnics). You
simply cannot encourage a prospect's participation in Sacred
Heart's athletic programs or provide benefits to the
student-athlete that you were not providing before he or she became
a prospect or enrolled student-athlete.

A prospective student-athlete is a person who has begun classes
for the ninth grade. However, it is possible for a younger student
to be a prospect, so it is prudent to treat ALL athletes as
prospects.

Can "I" be involved with High
School and Community College Student-Athletes (Prospects)

PLEASE feel free to attend high school and
community college athletic events. You simply cannot have any
contact with the prospective student-athletes or relatives. Should
you find yourself seated next to parents of a prospect, DO NOT
initiate conversation with the relatives. If conversation is
initiated with you, respond in a civil manner but DO NOT discuss
Sacred Heart's athletics program with them. If they raise questions
about the program, remind them that the NCAA prohibits you from
discussing the program with them. Direct their questions to Sacred
Heart's Athletics Department.

CONTINUE established family relationships with
friends and neighbors. Contacts with sons or daughters of these
families certainly are permitted as long as they are not made for
recruiting purposes and are not initiated by Sacred Heart's
coaching staff members. You are permitted to play "pick-up"
basketball or softball games, continue neighborhood picnics or
backyard barbecues and engage in your normal activities with
prospects and their parents who are family friends. Again, you
simply cannot attempt to recruit the prospect.

PLEASE feel free to attend a public event (e.g.
an awards banquet or dinner) at which prospects are in attendance.
No attempt should be made to recruit the prospect.

PLEASE send to Sacred Heart's coaching staff
any information about prospects that you think would be of
interest. Your assistance in this manner is very helpful. The
coaching staff will then make contact with the prospect.

PLEASE feel free to offer assistance to members
of Sacred Heart's coaching staff who are recruiting in your
community.

HOWEVER ...

AVOID becoming directly or indirectly involved
in making arrangements for a prospect, the prospect's family or
friends to receive money or financial aid of any kind.

AVOID providing ANYTHING to or
for a prospect, relatives or friends, without first checking with
the Athletics Department administration.

AVOID making any contact with a prospect or the
prospect's family on or off campus. If a coach has a recruit at an
athletic event, you should not approach the coach until the
prospect and family have gone elsewhere. If the prospect approaches
you off campus regarding the athletic program, explain that NCAA
rules do not allow you to discuss the program. Suggest that the
prospect contact the head coach of the sport for more information.

AVOID transporting, paying for or arranging for
payment of transportation costs for a prospect, relatives or
friends to visit campus or elsewhere. While it is permissible for a
friend or neighbor to transport a high school or community college
student who is NOT an athlete to the campus, NCAA regulations
prohibit that activity for a prospective student-athlete.

AVOID providing room and/or board,
transportation of any kind or any other benefit to a recruited
student-athlete during the summer prior to enrollment for fall
classes at SHU. AVOID entertaining high school,
prep school or community college COACHES at ANY location.

AVOID providing tickets or transportation for
high school, prep school or community college COACHES at any
location. Only the Athletics Department of Sacred Heart can provide
complimentary admissions and only to home athletic events for those
coaches.

AVOID entertaining or providing tickets at no
or reduced cost to Sacred Heart University home or away athletic or
non athletic events for prospects, their relatives or friends. Only
the Sacred Heart Athletics Department can provide complimentary
admissions to prospects and only for HOME athletic events.

AVOID contacting an enrolled student-athlete at
another institution for the purpose of encouraging transfer to
Sacred Heart and for participation in its athletic programs.

AVOID paying for or offering to pay the
registration fees for summer sports camps for a prospect.

AVOID contacting the prospect's coach,
principal or counselor for the purpose of evaluating the prospect.
You are not permitted to pick up films or transcripts from the
prospect's educational institution.

AVOID inviting ONLY SELECTED
junior or senior high school or community college prospective
student-athletes to alumni events. Since the NCAA prohibits contact
between prospects and alumni and "athletic representatives," care
must be taken to invite, for instance, all high school seniors who
have received academic and athletic awards.

PLEASE feel free to invite a student-athlete to
your home for a home cooked meal but only for a special occasion
(e.g. Thanksgiving, birthday). Remember, the student-athlete must
provide his/her own transportation.

PLEASE feel free to invite a team for dinner or
to meet with a group of alumni in a city where they are competing.
The NCAA permits student-athletes AS A TEAM to receive special
benefits not permitted as individuals. Arrangements for such events
must be made in advance with the head coach or the Athletic
Department.

HOWEVER ...

AVOID providing a student-athlete or friend any
benefit or special arrangement. The NCAA considers these as an
"extra benefit" and they are specifically prohibited.

AVOID providing room and/or board or any type
of transportation during the summer for a student athlete with
eligibility remaining.

AVOID providing room, board or transportation
costs incurred by friends or family of an enrolled student-athlete
to visit campus or attend any away contest.

AVOID expending funds to entertain
student-athletes, their friends or relatives. You are not even
permitted to buy a soft drink or cup of coffee for them.

AVOID using the name or picture of an enrolled
student-athlete to directly advertise, recommend or promote sales
or use of a commercial product or service of any kind. The SALE of
a picture of an enrolled student-athlete will jeopardize
eligibility.

AVOID providing any payment of expense or loan
of any automobile for a student-athlete to return home or to any
other location for ANY reason.

AVOID providing awards or gifts to a
student-athlete for his or her athletic performance. All awards
must conform to NCAA regulations and must be approved by SHU and
the Northeast Conference.

AVOID providing an honorarium to a
student-athlete for a speaking engagement. Only necessary travel
expenses can be given when speaking to educational or charitable
groups. All speaking engagements must be approved in advance by the
Sacred Heart University Athletics Department.

AVOID allowing a student-athlete, his or her
friends or relatives to use your telephone to make free long
distance calls.

Please Help: If you have knowledge of
improprieties, intentional or otherwise, please let the Compliance
Office at Sacred Heart University know immediately so that we can
take the necessary corrective actions.

What can "I" do regarding
Employment of Prospective and Enrolled Student Athletes?

PLEASE pay student-athletes employed by you
only for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with
the going rate for similar services in the community and your own
business.

PLEASE notify the head coaches of job
possibilities for student-athletes.

HOWEVER ...

AVOID employing or arranging for the employment
of a prospective or enrolled student-athlete without checking first
with the Sacred Heart University's Athletics Department. The
department is permitted to make arrangements for summer employment
for prospects prior to enrollment as freshmen and to enrolled
student-athletes during the summer and semester breaks. Stringent
rules apply in these instances and written records must be kept
regarding employment.

AVOID providing transportation for prospects or
student-athletes in your employ unless transportation is provided
for all other employees.

AVOID providing employment for student-athletes
during the academic year without first contacting the SHU Athletics
Department. The NCAA has strict rules about the amount and source
of outside funds during the academic year.